Research Associate in the Department of Forensic & Neurodevelopmental Sciences

King's College London; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established academic institution is seeking two Post-Doctoral Research Associates to lead innovative research in network psychometrics. This role involves analyzing extensive longitudinal data to uncover interactions between clinical features across development. Join a team of experts and contribute to groundbreaking studies that aim to identify critical developmental tipping points and mechanistic pathways related to mental health. This full-time position offers an exciting opportunity to work within a diverse and inclusive environment, where your contributions can significantly impact the field of neurodevelopment.

Qualifications

• PhD awarded or thesis submitted in a relevant research field.
• Advanced knowledge of systems-level modelling in life sciences.
• Proven competence in complex quantitative research methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead analyses on network psychometrics in neurodevelopment.
• Work with large longitudinal European cohorts data.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary research team.

Skills

Quantitative research methodologies

Statistical analysis

Systems-level modelling

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

PhD in neuropsychiatry/neurodevelopment/life sciences

Tools

R

Stata

MPlus

Job description

About us

A new opportunity has opened in the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences for two Post-Doctoral Research Associates to lead on cutting-edge 'network psychometrics' to examine how clinical features interact with each other (as well as neurobiological, neurocognitive processes) across development. These analyses will provide critical information to track what drives changes (e.g., developing mental health problems), when (identifying critical developmental tipping points), and how (which mechanistic pathways drive this).

The successful candidate(s) will join a world-class academic team of experts in neurodevelopment, who are situated in international networks (e.g., aims-2-trials.eu; candy-project.eu; r2d2-mh.eu).

About the role

The post holder(s) will work with secondary data from very large (>2,500 individuals) longitudinal European cohorts that span from the preschool age range into middle adulthood. Individuals within these cohorts have been 'deeply phenotyped' - comprehensively characterised by their clinical characteristics, behaviour/cognitive profiles, brain structure and function, inflammatory markers, and genetics.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), with a fixed-term contract until 30th November 2026.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD awarded (or thesis submitted) in a research-based field relevant to neuropsychiatry/neurodevelopment/life sciences. (Please ensure you submit your PhD qualification or proof of thesis submission alongside your application)
2. Advanced knowledge of systems-level modelling in life sciences, with demonstrable research interest in psychiatry.
3. Proven competence in complex quantitative research methodologies and statistical analysis, particularly with big/longitudinal data, using script-based statistical packages (e.g., R, Stata, MPlus).
4. Experience with longitudinal modelling approaches and data harmonisation.
5. Proven track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals appropriate for the career stage.
6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and evidence of effective collaborative work in a multidisciplinary research team.
7. Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise workload to meet project targets.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge, and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click "Apply Now". This document will outline the criteria assessed at each recruitment stage.

Please note that this is a PhD-level role, but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting PhD award will be considered. In such cases, the appointment will initially be at Grade 5, spine point 30, with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the PhD award, the job title will change to Research Associate, and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

Further information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel they belong and are connected within our community. We are committed to supporting our staff and developing a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. As part of this commitment, we aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds.

All candidates are asked to submit a CV and a supporting statement explaining how they meet the essential criteria. If there is a strong field of candidates, we may also consider the desirable criteria in our selection process. Please include evidence against these where possible.

For more details on our recruitment process, please see our 'How we Recruit' pages.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK.